Long Sutton, Somerset

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Map sources for Long Sutton, Somerset at grid reference ST467254

Long Sutton is a village and parish in Somerset, England, situated four miles south of Somerton in the South Somerset district. The village has a population of 862^[1].

The village of Long Sutton has a village green with a lime tree at each corner and a chestnut tree in the centre. The Devonshire Arms Hotel is at one end of the green and at the other the school and Holy Trinity church which is noted for its lovely wooden pulpit, said to be the oldest in England.

The village is made up of two hamlets Knole at one end and Upton at the other. Knole is famous for its waterwheel, dating back to the 11th century, as well as two very old farmhouses. The old barns are now converted into dwelling houses. The main line railway runs under the bridge at Upton and at one time certain trains stopped at Long Sutton and Pitney Halt as it was called. It was a common sight on market days to see the drovers driving a herd of cattle or a flock of sheep to various farms, but regretfully the station was closed some years ago and animals are hauled around in cattle lorries. The Quaker Meeting House was built in Queen Anne style and finished in 1717. It is very well preserved to this day and is still used for worship by the Quakers. There is a famous mounting block outside used in olden days to mount and dismount their horses when they came to worship, worshippers coming from as far away as Street, nearly seven miles away.

Opposite the Quaker Meeting House, known as Quakers' Corner are two cottages, once thatched. In one of these cottages it is said that Mrs Palmer of Huntley and Palmer fame made her first biscuits and cakes to help provide for her family. Some of the grave stones mark the resting place of the Palmer family in the grounds of the Friends' Meeting House.

Punkie Night originated many years ago and was started by farm labourers to light their way home after work. It is now the 'children's night' and held on the nearest night to Halloween. The children carry their 'punkies' made from either mangolds, turnips or marrows, which are hollowed out and faces or animals carved on them and lit with a candle inside similar to the modern Halloween custom.